In The News

York College is extremely proud to announce that Lewis Greenwood, a former apprentice, who works for PDS Construction in Wetherby, has been selected to join Team UK at WorldSkills, the ‘Skills Olympics’, in Russia. Lewis, who completed his apprenticeship in 2017, will represent the UK as the country's best skilled bricklayer Apprentice.

York College is also extremely proud of Stonemasonry Apprentice, Kristian Valente, who competed to a very high stage in the final selection stages of the competition, but did not make the final selection.

Mike Burdett, Team Leader and Tutor of Bricklaying at York College and World Skills Training Manager for WorldSkills says: “We are so proud of both Lewis and Kristian who have competed against some of the most skilled apprentices and students in the country. Lewis has worked extremely hard to make the UK Team and we are really excited to see how Team UK perform in the WorldSkills Final in Kazan, Russia at the end of August this year.”

More than 30 young professionals from engineering, hospitality and professional services, construction and digital and IT have cleared the highest hurdle in a two-year challenge to be the best in the World to be selected for TeamUK. These talented young people had already triumphed in regional and national competitions and have been victorious in the final Team Selection events across the UK.

The TeamUK selection results were revealed at Loughborough University, which has a strong association with training Team GB for the Olympics. Team UK will represent the United Kingdom at The WorldSkills Finals in Kazan, Russia in 22nd – 27th August 2019.

Neil Bentley-Gockmann OBE, CEO of WorldSkills UK, which selects and trains the team and uses their successes to promote skills across the country, said: “Think Olympic Games – but much more important to the economic future of the United Kingdom. This is a life-changing opportunity for all those involved. I couldn’t be more proud of these extraordinary young people who will be on the plane to Russia. They have worked tirelessly for weeks, months and years to be the best – they are a shining example to the next generation – let’s celebrate their spirit, commitment, and success.

“We are not only giving young people the opportunity to reach their full potential but we also believe that, working with them, we can transfer the insights gained from competing against other countries into the wider UK economy, driving up training standards for young people to world-class levels, giving a much-needed boost to productivity.”

More than 60 countries are sending elite teams to the Tatarstan Capital 800 km east of Moscow - to do battle and go for bronze, silver and gold in 56 different skills disciplines. The event, dubbed the ‘Skills Olympics’, which takes place every two years, will be shown live on TV and streamed around the World (including the UK) – and change the lives and careers of those that compete.

At the last WorldSkills finals (2017) in Abu Dhabi, Team UK finished in 10th position and is hoping to replicate or better the result.